Step-bearing.



W. DIETE-R.

STEP BEARING. APPLICATION men OCT. 3|, 1916.

134,633. Patnted Feb.18,1919.

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WILLIAM DIETER, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO E, W. BLISS COMPANY, OF BROOKLYN ,NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

, STEP-BEARING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 18, 1919.

Application filed October 31, 1916. Serial No. 128,684.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, -WILLIAM DIE'rER, a

c tizen of the United States of America, rcslding in the borough of Brooklyn, county of K ngs, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Step-Bearings, of which the follow ng is a specification.

This invention relates to the mounting of a vertical spindle or pivot such as those for the outer ring of a gyroscope, whereby to se cure a free and frictionless step bearing for such pivot. v

The invention is shown in its preferred form'iu the accompanying drawings, where- 1n,

Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in vertical section, through the pivotal bearings of theouter ring of a gyroscope;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the lower pivotal bearing, on a larger scale.

Referring to the drawings, A is the'fiywheel of the gyroscope, B is the inner ring in which the fly-wheel is pivoted, and C is the outer ring carrying the inner ringand being itself pivoted on avertical axis to any suitable support shown at D. These parts are all of the customary construction as heretofore used in gyroscopes for steering automobile torpedoes.

It is customary to provide ball bearings for the pivotal connections of the rings or gimbals. These bearings are commonly constructed in the manner shown for the upper bearing in Fig. 1, where the ring C is fitted with a stud a. which is best made of hardened steel and is formed with the pivot b which enters within a series of balls 0 which are confined in an annular ball race or recess in the pivotal portion of the support D, this portion being for convenience made as a separate plug E and having a hardened plate (I just opposite the pointed end of the pivot 7).

The same construction as heretofore used for the bottom pivot or step bearing has not proven altogether satisfactory, and the present invention aims to provide an improved construction of suchlower hearing.

The lower bearing is constructed like the upper one, with a central pivot c of hardened steel which turns within a series of ballsf, and the pointed end of which rests against a plate g also preferably of hardened steel, which in tiirn rests upon a series of balls h, being centered within the balls by means of a boss 9. which enters within the series of balls. The balls turn freely in a ball race or cup 2', the lower portion 2" of which carries the weight of the balls. The balls are held against vertical displacement by a shcet'metal disk 7' which concentrically upon the disk g, which is free to turn on the balls h. The turning ofthe gimbal normally rotates the balls by the contact of the sides of the pin 6 with these balls, and their rotation tends to turn the disk 9 so that the latter ordinarily rotates with the pivot pin, but at a slower speed.

The disk 9, with its hub g, constitutes a small separate part which is easily hardened by tempering. The improved construction of step bearing is ideally free from friction and wear, while holding the gimble so accurately centered as to avoid any lost mo tion.

The series of balls 0, f and h are of such number as to confp-lctely fill the respective ball races, and are preferably mounted therein without any cages or ball retainers. I claim as my invention i 1. A step-bcaring comprising a step pivot, balls centering said pivot, arotatable disk on which the pointed end of the pivot rests, and an anti-friction support for the disk, 2. A'step-bcaring comprising a step pivot, balls centering said pivot, a rotatable disk on which the pointed end of the pivot rests, and balls supporting and centering said disk. 3. A step-bearing comprising a step pivot.

a rotatable disk upon which the pointed endof the pivot rests, balls beneath said disk inga bell race, a series of balls therein, a

disk resiing on said balls having a hub entering Within the series of balls, :1 pointed pivot meshing centrally Dl'l said disk, and balls in held cup surrounding said pivot and resting on said dis 6, In a gyroscope, a pivotal bearing comprising a size pivot, 11 roiszita le disk on which the pointed endoif the pivot rests, and an anti-friction snppom for the dish.

pivot, bulls centering said 7. In a gyroscope, a pivotal bearing comprising a cup forming a ball race, a series of balls therein; a, disk resting on said balls having a hilhkentering Within the series of balls, a pointed pivot resting centrally on-fw WILLIAM DIETER. I

Witnesses: I

THOMAS F. WALLACE, BURTIS F. VAUGHAN. 

